Seoul Dragon

“Public service work… What kind of work do you have in mind?”
“I don’t know. I can’t reveal it right now, but I have a few more very special abilities. I think the day will come when I’ll use them. I believe they could be beneficial to many people.”
“Can you tell us what these abilities are?”
“I’m not sure. It would be difficult to reveal them right now. These are abilities that many people would be quite sensitive about.”
“I see… Do people around you discriminate against you or anything like that?”
“No? I haven’t felt anything like that. If anything, they find me fascinating. Everyone treats me so well that I seem to have adapted quickly.”
At my words, reporter An Soyoung smiled.
“That’s good to hear. Actually, I’ve covered a lot of mutant-related stories. I’ve seen many mutants who were deeply hurt by the people around them, but fortunately, it seems that hasn’t happened to you.”
“Honestly, I think I’m quite lucky with relationships.”
“That’s probably the most important thing. The people around you have a big impact on your life. Ah, my next question. I heard you were originally male, is that true?”
“Yes. Rather unfortunately, I completed my military service as a sergeant. I sometimes think if I was going to end up like this, I wish I had mutated a bit earlier. I went through quite a lot of hardship.”
“Ahaha… You changed from male to female, don’t you find it confusing?”
“It would be a lie to say I’m not confused, but I don’t think it’s a major problem. Whether I’m a man or a woman, ultimately, I am me. It would make sense to feel confused about my identity… but whether it’s a dragon trait or whatever, I didn’t feel that much confusion.”
“This might be a sensitive question… is that okay?”
“What kind of question is it?”
“Do you plan on dating anyone?”
“I might someday, but I’m not thinking about it right now. I think I need a bit more time to accept the changed me.”
“I see.”
“Is there anything you hope for in the future?”
“As I mentioned earlier, I want people to know that not all mutants are bad. I want to walk the streets proudly.”
“I see…”
“Do you have any more questions?”
“No, I think this is sufficient. Thank you for your cooperation. I’ll show you the draft when it’s written. There might be things that you’d reconsider and think shouldn’t be disclosed to the public.”
“Alright.”

After finishing the review of the interview content, it had already grown dark.
“I did an interview today.”
“Interview? Where?”
“The Korea Daily.”
“Wow… now you’re getting interview requests from one of Korea’s top three newspapers? Unnie, you’re moving up in the world! What kind of questions did they ask?”
“Nothing particularly sensitive, just about my recent life and how I felt when I mutated, that sort of thing. While I was at it, I said I’d like to see a positive perception of mutants, something along those lines.”
“The reporter who interviewed you must have been scared. That video from three days ago has been circulating.”
“Ah, I know about that. But still… she didn’t seem particularly scared.”
“That’s good then.”
“Oh, and I might go catch another mutant soon.”
“…Who this time?”
“The National Intelligence Service agent told me that a malicious mutant from China has entered Korea…? He said he’d let me know when they identify the person.”
“Will they pay you again if you catch them?”
“The reward is supposed to be quite substantial.”
“But I’ve been wondering, why is the National Intelligence Service doing this kind of work? Shouldn’t it be the police or something like that?”
“I don’t know. Something about authority issues… I don’t think it’s something to worry about.”
“When you get the reward, buy me a meal.”
“Geez… alright, alright. You’re just treating me like a money tree.”
“You’re getting quite natural at it now? Calling yourself ‘unnie’.”
“Just… it happened as time passed. I thought it would take a long time to get used to it, but because you kept calling me ‘unnie, unnie,’ I think I got used to it quickly.”
“So it’s all thanks to me. Bow down to me…!”
“She’s been watching something weird again.”
“What are you talking about? I’m just copying you.”
“When did I ever do that?”
“You always talk nonsense when you’re at home. Last time you were even saying you’d do internet broadcasting.”
“…I can’t deny that. Hey, by the way, aren’t you worried that your unnie is going around catching dangerous creatures?”
“Honestly, shouldn’t I be worried about the mutant that’s going to be caught by unnie rather than worrying about unnie? If I hadn’t seen that from three days ago, I might have been worried, but after seeing that, why would I worry about you?”
“That’s true…?”
“Take it easy, take it easy. Unnie, they say if you punch someone for real, their body would explode? Would a mutant be any different?”
“Come on, I can control my strength that much. Have you ever seen me break anything?”
“No. But still, be careful.”
“I know, I know. Anyway, before catching that mutant, they said they’d introduce me to other mutants… I wonder what kind of mutant I’ll meet.”
“You’ll meet a lot of interesting people.”
“Right? I’m kind of looking forward to it.”
“Oh, it’s almost time for my tutoring. I’m going now?”
“Sure.”

As soon as my sister left for tutoring, I suddenly got a call from the agent.
-Seohyun, do you have a moment?
“Ah, yes. What is it?”
-Remember what I mentioned the other day? We’ve identified the location of that mutant, so we’re planning to start the arrest operation soon.
“That’s faster than I expected? It’s only been about three days.”
-Fortunately, among the mutants who help us, there’s one specialized in finding people. Ah, would you like to meet other mutants while we’re at it?
“Oh, I’d love to. I haven’t met any other mutants yet except for that minotaur.”
-Great. Then, we’re thinking of starting the operation around this Friday, would that work for you?
“Oh, that’s later than I expected?”
-Haha, we’ve only just identified the location, but we need to establish a detailed plan and figure out what they’re targeting in Korea. It’s a more time-consuming process than you might think… I think by Friday, the groundwork should be more or less complete.
“I see. Anyway, understood. By the way, could I get some information about the mutant I’ll be meeting?”
-Ah, the mutant who will be joining this operation is a High Elf. They can hear the voices of plants extensively, so they occasionally help us.
High Elf? As far as I know, the only High Elf that has appeared so far lives in California, right?
“A High Elf? Is that the person living in California?”
-Huh? How do you know?
“No, it’s just… I think I’ve seen them occasionally on community forums.”
-Ah, haha! That’s right. It is the person residing in California.
“Aren’t they American now?”
-More precisely, they have dual citizenship. Normally, as soon as you acquire American citizenship, your Korean citizenship would be revoked, but for mutants specifically, they can maintain dual citizenship.
“Isn’t that preferential treatment?”
-It is preferential if you want to call it that. But we don’t just allow dual citizenship indiscriminately. It’s only recognized for mutants who have helped the country. That person has conducted operations with us several times.
“I see…”
-Anyway, I think you’ll find it quite enjoyable. That High Elf is a very interesting person.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
-Then, I’ll see you on Friday.
I was filled with a strange anticipation. I had never met or spoken with another mutant before.
Even if the community forums portray them as somewhat whimsical, there’s usually a difference between how one presents oneself online and in reality.
So, what kind of person would this High Elf be?
Perhaps they might be more serious than I thought.

Or so I had thought at one point.
“Hieeeeek…! P-please spare meee…!”
What is this cute and pitiful creature?
I looked at the High Elf in front of me, with blonde hair and blue eyes like a lake.
Her name was Choi Sia.
When she mutated, she gained powers stronger than a regular elf, allowing her to control plants and hear their voices.
She was twenty-three years old.
I was twenty-four, so she was a year younger than me.
But why is she acting like this?
“Excuse me…”
“P-please, just my life…! Oh my goodness, a real dragon…! I’m dead! All that’s left is for me to be exploited!!!”
“Um, Agent? Is she always like this?”
“I’m a bit perplexed too. She was a bit quirky, but not to this extent.”
Even the agent’s expression showed bewilderment as he looked at me. Why is she acting like this?
“Excuse me, Sia?”
“Hii, hiiiek!”
“I won’t do anything to you, so can you calm down a bit first?”
“I-I can’t calm down…! I don’t know why I’m like this either… Somehow, at an instinctual level, there’s this fear telling me to stay away eeeek!”
Looking at her reaction, I realized something.
In novels and other media, dragons were tyrannical rulers of nature… and were objects of fear for elves who lived with nature.
Could it be that this reflected reality?
No, but she’s not just an elf, she’s a High Elf?
“J-just a moment. I, I’ll try, I’ll try to calm down!”
She even took deep breaths while muttering.
“The person in front of me won’t exploit me…! They won’t enslave elves…!”
…What on earth did that species suffer at the hands of dragons?